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Love Scenario
View on Wikipedia| "Love Scenario" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Japanese version digital cover | ||||
| Single by iKon | ||||
| from the album Return | ||||
| Language |
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| Released | January 25, 2018 | |||
| Studio | YG (Seoul) | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 3:29 | |||
| Label | ||||
| Composers |
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| Lyricists | ||||
| Producer | B.I | |||
| IKon singles chronology | ||||
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| Music video | ||||
| "Love Scenario" on YouTube | ||||
"Love Scenario" (Korean: 사랑을 했다; RR: Sarang-eul haetda) is a song recorded by South Korean boy group iKon. It was released as the lead single of their second studio album, Return.[2] The song won "Song of the Year" at the 2018 Melon Music Awards and 33rd Golden Disc Awards. It is recognized as iKon's signature song.
Background and composition
[edit]"Love Scenario" is described as a mellow, yet relatively upbeat, with a circuitous melody that guides the rhythmic dance track.[3]
"I wanted to express what I found regrettable, neither sad nor happy, in the warm farewell which inspired me by the last 10 minutes of the film La La Land," group leader and songwriter B.I stated. He continued, "The main protagonist smiles at his past lover in the end, and I felt, 'That's enough.'"[citation needed]
Chart performance
[edit]Upon its release, "Love Scenario" topped China's QQ Music's real-time chart. It also entered the top 10 on QQ Music's weekly chart. In South Korea, the song debuted at 12 on the Gaon Weekly Chart.[4][5][6] It topped the chart for six weeks straight, becoming the longest-running number-one song in Gaon history. On February 5, it reached number one on numerous digital platforms such as iChart, Melon, Genie, Bugs, Mnet, Naver, and Soribada, and also number one on the weekly overall chart, Instiz's iChart. They are the second boy band to ever have achieved number one on more than seven music charts since iChart began ranking songs in 2010, with Big Bang having previously accomplishing a similar feat. The group managed to achieve 204 hourly Perfect All Kills, where a song is number one on all charts for a certain amount of time. The song spent 913 hours at number one on the Melon Chart and 40 days at number one on the Melon daily chart.[7]
The group was named top artists of the first half of 2018 by Genie Music, as they topped their daily chart for 35 days.[8]
"Love Scenario" became the first song to receive a Gaon platinum certification from the Korea Music Content Industry Association in the streaming category after surpassing 100 million streams.[9]
Critical reception
[edit]Billboard praised the song, saying it "is guided by a gentle cowbell-style beat and swaying vocals. The song relays a mellow, yet relatively upbeat, reaction to breaking up, with a circuitous melody that guides the rhythmic dance track. It's more emotional than their boisterous most-recent singles, and serves as a subtle directional change and maturing for iKON."[10] "Love Scenario" was also chosen as Apple Music's Best of the Week.[11]
| Critic/Publication | List | Rank | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Billboard | The 20 Best K-pop Songs of 2018: Critics' Picks | 7 | [12] |
| BuzzFeed | 30 Songs That Helped Define K-Pop In 2018 | 10 | [13] |
| The Dong-a Ilbo | Best Songs of 2018 | 1 | [14] |
| HK01 | 20 Must Listen to K-Pop Songs of 2018 | 2 | [15] |
| Paper | PAPER's Top 20 K-Pop Songs of 2018 | 4 | [16] |
| Sanook | 10 Popular Songs From 2018 | N/a | [17] |
| SBS PopAsia | Top 100 Asian pop songs of 2018 | 3 | [18] |
| YouTube Rewind | Top 10 Most Popular Music Videos In Korea From 2018 | 1 | [19] |
Impact
[edit]The song achieved substantial popularity, especially from kindergarteners and elementary schoolers due to its easy-to-follow melodies and lyrics.[20] Some elementary schools banned students from singing "Love Scenario" in classrooms because of its inappropriate content and students showing signs of addiction to catchy tunes.[21] It was featured in several popular Korean TV shows, including Running Man, Infinite Challenge, and the third season of Squid Game.[22]
In March 2019, the song was made into an exclusive in-game emote in Fortnite, which players could get by purchasing any Galaxy S10 series smartphone through a partnership between Epic Games and Samsung Mobile.[23][24] The emote was available until the end of that year.[25]
Music video
[edit]The "Love Scenario" music video was shot with a motion control camera. The background displays nostalgic scenery and props; each scene consists of naturally connected shots, and the Korean media said that this production method adds "fun" to the film.[26] The music video also shows the synchronized dance of seven members, with love stories shown in the background to reflect the lyrics. Among them, the film presents a period from top to bottom, showing iKon's star-shaped dance, which was called the highlight of the music video by Billboard.[3]
On May 24, 2021, the music video reached 500 million views on YouTube.[27]
Chinese and Japanese version
[edit]On 12 July, the Chinese version of the hit song was released, with the lyrics being written by Tiger Hu.[citation needed] While in 2019, the Japanese version was released on 27 February.
Charts
[edit]Accolades
[edit]| Year | Organization | Category | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Melon Music Awards | Best Rap/Hip-hop | Nominated | [29] |
| Song of The Year (Daesang) | Won | |||
| MBC Plus X Genie Music Awards | Rap/Hip Hop Music Award | Won | [30] | |
| Best Song of The Year | Nominated | [31] | ||
| Mnet Asian Music Awards | Song of The Year (Daesang) | Nominated | [32] | |
| Best Vocal Performance Group | Won | |||
| 2019 | Golden Disc Awards | Digital Song Division (Bonsang) | Won | [33] |
| Digital Song of The Year (Daesang) | Won | |||
| Seoul Music Awards | Record of the Year in Digital Release | Won | [34] | |
| Gaon Chart Music Awards | Song of the Year – January | Won | [35] | |
| Long-Run Song of the Year | Won | |||
| The Fact Music Awards | Best Song | Won | [36] |
|
|
Certifications
[edit]| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| South Korea (KMCA)[49] | Platinum | 2,500,000* |
| Streaming | ||
| Japan (RIAJ)[50] | Gold | 50,000,000† |
| South Korea (KMCA)[51] | 2× Platinum | 200,000,000† |
|
* Sales figures based on certification alone. | ||
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "[V Report] iKon's B.I reveals production process of 'Love Scenario'". Kpop Herald.
- ^ "iKON Introduces 'Love Scenario' & 'Return' Album: Watch this Billboard Exclusive". Billboard.
- ^ a b "iKon 'Return' with New Album & 'Love Scenario' Single". Billboard. Retrieved January 25, 2018.
- ^ "Gaon 2018년 04주차 Digital Chart". Gaon. Retrieved February 1, 2018.
- ^ "QQ Music: Love Scenario".
- ^ ""돌아온 음원강자" 아이콘, '사랑을 했다' 6일째 1위". Chosun. Retrieved February 1, 2018.
- ^ "iKON's 'Love Scenario' Becomes First 2018 Track To Achieve Perfect All-Kill". Soompi. Retrieved February 4, 2018.
- ^ "[DA:차트] 아이콘·모모랜드, 2018 상반기 최고 남녀그룹". Naver News. Retrieved June 27, 2018.
- ^ "가온 인증(Gaon Certification)". Gaon Chart.
- ^ "iKon 'Return' with New Album & 'Love Scenario' Single". Billboard. Retrieved February 1, 2018.
- ^ "iKON's 'LOVE SCENARIO' at No. 1 For 2 Days... First Performance Today (27th) At 'Music Core'". YG Life. Retrieved February 1, 2018.
- ^ "The 20 Best K-pop Songs of 2018: Critics' Picks". Billboard. December 17, 2018. Retrieved January 6, 2019.
- ^ "30 Songs That Helped Define K-Pop In 2018". BuzzFeed. January 2, 2019. Retrieved April 18, 2019.
- ^ Lim, Hwi-yoon (December 13, 2018). "최고 가수는 BTS, 최고 프로듀서는 방시혁". doongA (in Korean). Retrieved January 6, 2019.
- ^ Yuyuan, Li (December 31, 2018). "盤點2018年20首必聽k-pop冠軍歌 BTS、EXO等天王之年". HK01 (in Chinese). Retrieved January 6, 2019.
- ^ Benjamin, Jeff (December 21, 2018). "PAPER's Top 20 K-Pop Songs of 2018". PAPER. Retrieved January 6, 2019.
- ^ Sidhipong, W.; Chanon, B.; Jurairat, N. (December 22, 2018). "10 เพลงสุดฮิตแห่งปี 2018". Sanook (in Thai). Retrieved January 6, 2019.
- ^ "PopAsia's Top 100 Asian pop songs of 2018: 50-1". SBS. Popasia. December 24, 2018. Retrieved January 6, 2019.
- ^ "Top 10 Most Popular Music Videos In Korea From 2018". YouTube. December 6, 2018. Retrieved January 6, 2019.
- ^ "Sing 'Love Scenario' with iKON at family festival". Kpop Herald.
- ^ "iKON's 'Love Scenario' banned in some elementary schools". Korea Times.
- ^ "iKON's "Love Scenario" is EVERYWHERE on Korean TV". SBS.com.au.
- ^ Herman, Tamar (2019-03-05). "iKON's Chanwoo Teams Up With 'Fortnite' & Samsung to Create New Skin". Billboard. Retrieved 2024-12-22.
- ^ Benjamin, Jeff (2019-03-22). "iKON Hits America: The K-Pop Band Talks SXSW, Samsung Partnership & Their iKONIK 'Fortnite' Collaboration". Billboard. Retrieved 2024-12-22.
- ^ Little, Riley (2019-03-19). "Fortnite's New Samsung Exclusive Skin Will Make K-Pop Fans Happy". ScreenRant. Retrieved 2024-12-22.
- ^ "아이콘, '취향저격' 느낌물씬...'사랑을 했다' 티저 첫선" (in Korean). naver. 2018-01-22. Retrieved 2018-01-27.
- ^ "iKON's "Love Scenario" Becomes Their 1st MV To Reach 500 Million Views". Soompi. 2021-05-24. Retrieved 2022-08-28.
- ^ "2018년 Digital Chart". Gaon. Retrieved January 17, 2019.
- ^ "Winners Of The 2018 Melon Music Awards". Soompi. Retrieved 2018-12-01.
- ^ "2018 MBC Plus X Genie Music Awards Announces Nominees + Voting Begins". Soompi. October 1, 2018.
- ^ "2018 MBC Plus X Genie Music Awards Announces Nominees + Voting Begins". Soompi. October 1, 2018.
- ^ Lee, Ho-yeon (November 1, 2018). 방탄소년단부터 워너원...'2018 MAMA', 투표 시작. Hankook Ilbo (in Korean). Retrieved November 5, 2018.
- ^ "Winners Of The 33rd Golden Disc Awards Day 1". Soompi. Retrieved 2019-01-05.
- ^ "Winners of the '28th Seoul Music Awards'!". allkpop. January 15, 2019. Retrieved January 16, 2019.
- ^ "Winners Of 8th Gaon Chart Music Awards". soompi. January 23, 2019. Retrieved January 24, 2019.
- ^ "방탄소년단, 더팩트뮤직어워즈 대상..4관왕 영예(종합)". star.mt.co.kr (in Korean). April 24, 2019. Retrieved April 24, 2019.
- ^ "'엠카운트다운' 아이콘, 선미 꺾고 1위... 보아·수지·레드벨벳, '걸크러시' 컴백 (종합)". Ten Asia (in Korean). February 1, 2018. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
- ^ "아이콘, '사랑을 했다'로 '엠카' 1위..5관왕 달성". Ten Asia (in Korean). March 1, 2018. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
- ^ "'엠카' 아이콘, 1위 10관왕..마마무·정일훈·NCT드림 컴백 [종합]". Chosun (in Korean). March 8, 2018. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
- ^ "[SBS Star] VIDEO: iKON's 'LOVE SCENARIO' to Its Unstoppable Popularity Scenario!". SBS News.
- ^ "'인기가요' 아이콘, 모모랜드 꺾고 1위…음방 4관왕 달성 [종합]". Chosun (in Korean). February 25, 2018. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
- ^ "아이콘, '인기가요' 첫 트리플크라운 "새 싱글, 사랑 부탁"". Chosun (in Korean). March 4, 2018. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
- ^ "'음악중심' 아이콘, 모모랜드 꺾고 1위...보아·양요섭 컴백[종합]". Chosun (in Korean). February 24, 2018. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
- ^ "'음악중심' 아이콘, 2주연속 1위 7관왕". YG Life (in Korean). March 3, 2018. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
- ^ "'음악중심' 아이콘, 11관왕 대기록(종합)". YG Life (in Korean). March 10, 2018. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
- ^ "아이콘, '뮤직뱅크' 1위... 음악방송 6관왕". Ten Asia (in Korean). March 2, 2018. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
- ^ "'쇼챔피언' 아이콘, 불참에도 1위 9관왕 달성...성규·우주소녀 컴백[종합]". Chosun (in Korean). March 7, 2018. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
- ^ "Melon Weekly Award". www.melon.com (in Korean). Retrieved June 11, 2018.
- ^ "South Korean single certifications – iKON – Love Scenario" (in Korean). Korea Music Content Association (KMCA). Retrieved November 8, 2018.
- ^ "Japanese single streaming certifications – iKON – LOVE SCENARIO -KR Ver.-" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved April 28, 2025. Select 2025年3月 on the drop-down menu
- ^ "South Korean single streaming certifications – iKON – Love Scenario" (in Korean). Korea Music Content Association (KMCA). Retrieved May 10, 2023.
Love Scenario
View on GrokipediaBackground and release
Development and composition
"Love Scenario" was primarily written and produced by iKON's leader B.I (Kim Han-bin), who co-composed the music with producers Millennium and Seung, while the lyrics were co-written by B.I, fellow member Bobby, and Mot Mal. As the group's main producer, B.I drew from his childlike innocence to infuse the track with a sense of joyful melancholy, reflecting his personal drive to create music that resonates emotionally without overcomplicating the process.[9] He often sourced inspiration from movies, dramas, and poetry to compensate for his limited life experiences at the time, composing late into the night to ensure sincerity in every element.[10] The composition process was notably efficient and collaborative, taking place in a YG Entertainment studio where B.I worked alongside his production friends, including Seung and Millennium, to finalize the track in just two hours. Described as a casual session reminiscent of "Mozart-like" spontaneity, the team expressed immediate satisfaction with the result, capturing a mellow yet upbeat melody that emphasized a circuitous, narrative structure to evoke a "warm farewell." B.I aimed for simplicity in the lyrics and arrangement to make the song accessible, particularly to younger audiences, while highlighting the group's vocal harmonies. Recording occurred in late 2017 at YG Studios in Seoul, with all seven iKON members contributing vocals in a focused yet relaxed environment that mirrored the song's lighthearted tone. Members like Donghyuk praised B.I's perfectionism, noting how his meticulous revisions during sessions ensured the final product connected deeply with listeners through its authentic emotional layering.[10] This approach resulted in a demo that evolved into the lead single for iKON's second studio album Return, released on January 25, 2018.[10]Release and promotion
"Love Scenario" served as the lead single from iKON's second studio album Return, released digitally on January 25, 2018, through YG Entertainment.[11] The track was made available for streaming and download on platforms such as iTunes and Apple Music, while the physical album followed on January 26 in red and black versions.[2] Pre-orders for Return commenced on January 18, generating significant anticipation among fans.[12] Promotion for the single kicked off earlier in the month with a teaser image and preview of the title track posted on YG Entertainment's official blog on January 13.[13] This was followed by a series of individual member teaser films and spot videos, starting with Bobby on January 19 and continuing through January 24, building hype for the comeback.[14] YG also organized fan signing events in the weeks after release to engage directly with supporters, including sessions at locations like Starfield Goyang.[15] iKON's promotional activities extended to music broadcast appearances, with their first stage performance of "Love Scenario" taking place on MBC's Show! Music Core on January 27, 2018.[16] Subsequent shows, such as SBS's Inkigayo on January 28, further amplified the single's visibility during its initial rollout.[17]Musical style and lyrics
Genre and production
"Love Scenario" is a K-pop track blending hip-hop, pop, and R&B influences, characterized by its laid-back rhythm and nostalgic tone.[18][19] The song operates at a moderate tempo of 118 beats per minute in the key of G major, contributing to its relaxed yet engaging vibe.[20] With a duration of 3:29, it maintains a concise structure that emphasizes melodic flow over complex arrangements.[21] The instrumentation centers on a rollicking piano refrain that drives the melody, complemented by brassy accents and subtle synth elements for an upbeat, evocative feel.[18] Folksy percussion, including cowbell and light beats, provides a gentle rhythmic backbone, evoking nostalgia without overpowering the vocal forefront.[18][22] This stripped-back approach highlights the song's production, handled by composers B.I, Millenium, and Seung, with lyrics written by B.I, Bobby, and Mot Mal, and Millenium also serving as arranger.[21] Production techniques include layered vocals that showcase the members' diverse timbres, creating harmonic depth through harmonized choruses and ad-libs.[22] The melody follows a circuitous progression, cycling through common chord patterns like Em-C-G-D to build emotional resonance gradually.[23] Key vocal roles feature rap verses by Bobby (first verse) and B.I (second verse), which introduce the track's narrative drive, with the chorus led by B.I and Ju-ne, and the bridge by Song for added intensity.[3]Themes and interpretation
"Love Scenario" explores the core theme of a bittersweet farewell to a past romance, framing the relationship as a self-contained "love scenario" that reaches a natural and satisfying conclusion. The lyrics depict the end of love not with regret or sorrow, but with contentment and gratitude for the shared experiences, portraying the breakup as a commendable melodrama that has played out fully. This perspective emphasizes acceptance, suggesting that the mere fact of having loved is enough to make the story worthwhile.[24] Central to the song's message are key lyrics such as the repeated chorus line "We loved" (in Korean, sarang-eul haetda), which serves as a simple yet poignant affirmation of the relationship's existence and its enduring positive impact. This phrase highlights closure by focusing on what was achieved rather than what was lost, evoking a sense of peaceful resolution. Other lines, like "The love scenario that we created / Now the lights are off / And if we flip the last page / The curtains will quietly fall," reinforce the idea of love as a finite performance that ends gracefully.[24] The narrative structure of "Love Scenario" mimics a film script, with verses progressively building an emotional arc that traces the romance from its vibrant beginning through its inevitable decline to a reflective close. This storytelling approach creates a sense of progression, much like scenes in a movie, culminating in a harmonious fade-out that symbolizes emotional maturity. Interpretations often view the song as a broader reflection on youth and the transient nature of connections, capturing the nostalgia of fleeting moments without delving into personal specifics. The upbeat melody contrasts with these melancholic lyrics, amplifying the bittersweet essence without overshadowing the lyrical depth.[24]Commercial performance
Chart performance
"Love Scenario" achieved significant domestic success upon its release, topping South Korea's Gaon Digital Chart for six consecutive weeks in February 2018, which was the longest run at number one in the chart's history at the time. The song also dominated streaming platforms, spending 913 hours at number one on Melon and accumulating 204 Perfect All Kills across major Korean music sites, a record for the most hourly PAKs by a song at that point. Internationally, it peaked at number 4 on the US Billboard World Digital Song Sales chart and entered the top 10 on China's QQ Music weekly chart, while topping QQ Music's real-time and K-pop weekly rankings for four consecutive weeks. For the year, "Love Scenario" ranked number 1 on the 2018 Gaon year-end Digital Chart, reflecting its enduring popularity throughout the year.Sales and certifications
"Love Scenario" achieved platinum certification from the Gaon Chart (now Circle Chart) for digital downloads in South Korea after accumulating 2.5 million units.[25] The track also became the first K-pop song to earn a platinum streaming certification from Gaon, reaching 100 million accumulated streams in just 18 weeks following its release in June 2018. Its sustained popularity led to further recognition, including a 2× platinum certification by the Korea Music Content Association (KMCA) for surpassing 200 million streams, awarded on May 10, 2023.[26] In Japan, "Love Scenario" received a gold certification from the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ) for exceeding 50 million streams, certified on April 28, 2025.[27] Physical sales of the single were primarily bundled with iKON's second studio album Return, which included the track as its lead single and contributed to the album's overall commercial performance. The song's chart dominance in South Korea further bolstered its sales and streaming milestones.Critical reception and accolades
Critical response
Critics praised "Love Scenario" for its emotional depth in depicting a bittersweet farewell, marking a mature evolution in iKON's sound compared to their more energetic prior releases.[7] Billboard ranked it at number 7 on its list of the 20 best K-pop songs of 2018, highlighting the track's "relaxed vibes" and "deceptively simple" structure that captured a breezy yet poignant breakup narrative.[7] In South Korea, The Dong-a Ilbo selected "Love Scenario" as the top song of 2018, crediting its universal appeal that transcended trends and resonated across demographics, outpacing hits by BTS and Blackpink.[28] Korean reviewers commended the song's subtlety, emphasizing its focus on vocal harmonies and restrained production over the spectacle of iKON's earlier bombastic tracks like those from 2017, which showcased the group's growing emotional maturity.[29] This shift allowed the lyrics' themes of amicable parting to shine through without overwhelming instrumentation.[29] While largely positive, some critiques pointed to the song's predictable structure, noting that its chill melody and minimal build-up felt straightforward and lacked dynamic surprises until the late escalation.[30] In retrospective rankings, the song was placed at number 29 on Billboard's list of the 100 Greatest K-Pop Songs of the 2010s in 2019 and number 71 on Rolling Stone's list of the 100 Greatest Songs in the History of Korean Pop Music in 2023.[18][31]Awards and nominations
"Love Scenario" achieved significant recognition at major South Korean music awards ceremonies in 2018 and 2019. At the 2018 Melon Music Awards, the song was awarded Song of the Year (Daesang), marking iKON's first grand prize win and highlighting its widespread popularity throughout the year.[32] Additionally, iKON member B.I received the Best Songwriter Award for his contributions to the track, becoming the youngest recipient at age 22 and the first male idol to win in this category.[33][34] The song also secured the Digital Song of the Year (Daesang) at the 33rd Golden Disc Awards in 2019, where it outperformed other major hits based on a combination of sales, streaming data, and expert evaluations.[35][36] This victory underscored the track's commercial dominance, as it received the highest subjective votes among nominees.[37] On weekly music programs in 2018, "Love Scenario" amassed 11 wins across shows such as M Countdown, Music Bank, Show! Music Core, Inkigayo, and Show Champion, reflecting its sustained chart performance.[38][39] Beyond these wins, the song received nominations at prestigious events including the 2018 Mnet Asian Music Awards, where it was shortlisted for Song of the Year (Daesang) alongside tracks like BTS's "Fake Love" and BLACKPINK's "Ddu-Du Ddu-Du."[40] It also earned a nomination and subsequent win for Best Song at the 28th Seoul Music Awards in 2019, further affirming its critical and popular acclaim.[41]| Award Ceremony | Year | Category | Result | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Melon Music Awards | 2018 | Song of the Year (Daesang) | Won | For "Love Scenario"[32] |
| Melon Music Awards | 2018 | Best Songwriter | Won | B.I for "Love Scenario"[33] |
| Golden Disc Awards | 2019 | Digital Song of the Year (Daesang) | Won | For "Love Scenario"[35] |
| Mnet Asian Music Awards | 2018 | Song of the Year (Daesang) | Nominated | For "Love Scenario"[40] |
| Seoul Music Awards | 2019 | Best Song | Won | For "Love Scenario"[41] |
| Music Programs (e.g., M Countdown, Inkigayo) | 2018 | 1st Place | 11 Wins | Across multiple shows[38] |
